Winter in Northwest Indiana is beautiful—but the freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on your plumbing system. Every year, homeowners deal with burst pipes, unexpected leaks, and thousands of dollars in water damage simply because their pipes froze without warning.

The good news? With a few preventative steps, you can dramatically reduce the risk of frozen pipes and keep your home protected all season long.

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Why Pipes Freeze in the First Place

When temperatures drop below 20°F, water inside unprotected pipes begins to freeze and expand. This expansion creates pressure that can cause pipes to burst—often in areas you can’t see, like behind walls, crawl spaces, or under sinks.
Once the pipe bursts, the melting cycle begins… and that’s when the flooding starts.

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Most At-Risk Areas in Your Home

You should pay special attention to:

• Basements and crawl spaces
• Unheated garages
• Exterior walls
• Kitchen and bathroom sink cabinets
• Pipes near drafty windows or doors

These areas lose heat quickly and are most likely to freeze first.

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How to Prevent Frozen Pipes (Simple Steps That Actually Work)

1. Keep a Slow Drip Running on Extremely Cold Nights

A small trickle of water relieves pressure inside the pipes and prevents freezing. Focus on faucets on exterior walls.

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2. Open Cabinet Doors Under Sinks

This allows warm air from your home to circulate around the pipes—especially kitchen sinks on an outside wall.

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3. Seal Air Leaks & Insulate Vulnerable Areas

Cold drafts are a pipe’s worst enemy. Use:

• Pipe insulation
• Heat tape (with thermostat)
• Foam seals around windows and doors
• Weather stripping for crawl space openings

This is one of the most cost-effective ways to prevent winter plumbing disasters.

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4. Disconnect & Drain Outdoor Hoses

Leaving hoses attached traps water inside the spigot and interior piping. Always disconnect them before the first freeze.

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5. Know How to Shut Off Your Home’s Water

If a pipe bursts, every second counts. Make sure you and your family know where the main shutoff valve is—and how to use it.

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Signs Your Pipes Are Starting to Freeze

Act fast if you notice:

• Slow or no water flow
• Frost on pipes
• Strange smells coming from drains
• Gurgling sounds when faucets turn on

Catching the freeze early can prevent major damage.

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What to Do If a Pipe Is Already Frozen

DO:

• Turn off the water supply
• Apply gentle heat with a hairdryer or space heater
• Call a licensed plumber

DON’T:

• Use open flames
• Bang on the pipes
• Ignore the problem and hope it “thaws itself”

Unprofessional thawing attempts are one of the biggest causes of burst pipes we see every winter.

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❄️ Need Help Protecting Your Home This Winter?

V & L Plumbing, Inc. provides frozen pipe prevention, emergency thawing, and full repairs if the worst happens.

Call us anytime: (219) 558-0555
Email: SERVICE@VANDLPLUMBING.COM

Stay warm, stay safe—and let us handle the plumbing.